Improvement in guns for firing signal-cartridges



1. E D KBNDALL Gun for Firing Signal-Cartridges'.

No. 217,116. Patentd'lulyL 1879.

of ab UNITED STATES' PATENT OEEICE EDVABD D..KENDALL, OF JERSEY CITY,NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUNS FOR FIRING SIGNAL-CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent Nol 217,116, dated July l,1879 application filed May 10, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EDWARD D. KENDALL, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and Statel of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Nautical Signal-Light Apparatus; and l do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this speciication.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a nautical signal-light apparatus, as will be hereinafter more vfullyset forth.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same;and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tube B.

A represents a smallmortar, cannoli, or gun, from which the signal-lightis to be discharged. Into the breech of this mortar is screwed orotherwise rigidly attached a tube, B, of any suitable length, forcontaining the iiring-o mechanism. In the other end of this tube isattached a rod or staff, G, the end of which is surmounted by a metalcap, D, constructed to form a central point, a, as shown. This rod orstai C supports the mortar, cannon, or gun A, with the firing mechanism,and transmits the force of the recoil when explosive discharge takesplace to the earth or the deck of the vessel. By the point a of the capon the end of the staff the device may be easily turned in any directiondesired.

b represents a firing pin or needle, which is fastened by a set-screw,cl, in a plunger, F, placed in the tube B, said flrin g pin or needlebeing intended for exploding a fulminate by percussion, the fulminatebeing contained in or attached to a cartridge for projecting andproducing signal-lights.

The plunger F rests upon a spiral spring,l G, placed in the tube B, saidspring and plunger being arranged in such a manner that the plunger willhave .a certain amount of play independent of the spring, for thepurpose of allowing the firing pin or needle b to be withdrawn entirelyfrom the interior of the mortar or gun A. The plunger F is provided witha lug or projection, t, which extends through avertical slot, in thetube B.

In suitable guides on the outside of the tube is placed a sliding rod,I, having a handle, H, at its lower end, and at its upper end said rodforms a crank, h, to take over the projection, i.

In one side of the rod I is a series of notches, y y, into which aspring, J, secured to the tube B, will engage when the rod is drawndown, so as to hold `said rod and the plunger in proper position forfiring. Along one side of the slot in the tube B is an inclined iiange,m, against which the crank h ou the rod I will bear.

By turning the rod I in its bearings so that the teeth or notches y willclear the spring J, the rod can then be moved upward, and in thisposition the rod is turned back again so that the crank h will pass overand catch on the lug t' of the plunger. By now pulling down the rod theplunger is also pulled down and the spring G compressed, the rod beingheld by the spring J in the Ateeth or notchesy until the rod is pulledso far that the crank h, sliding over the incline m, will be turned outof the way from 0E the lug t', and the spring G then suddenly andforcibly throws the plunger and firing-pin upward, exploding thefulminate and discharging the signal-light.

The purpose of the teeth or notches ou the sliding rod is to prevent therin g pin or needle being pushed into the mortar when the sliding rod isreturned, after firing, to its first position, the object being toprovide against the risk of premature explosion. Without the arrangementof notches (and spring engaging therein) the ring-pin might beinadvertently pushed back into the mortar by careless manipulation ofthe sliding rod at the moment when a ear tridge wasbeingdrop-ped intothe mortar. The results would be, perhaps, harmful to the operator andto the reputation of Kendalls nautical signal-light. The arrangementdescribed (the mechanism being properly constructed) renders accidentfrom the source mentioned simply impossible.

In the manufacture of my invention minor changes in the details ofconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention. For instance, the lug or projection i on the plunger maysimply consist of a screw or pin inserted and fastened in the plunger.The springs may be of any desired form, size, or material.

With my invention the signal-light apparatus may be manipulated in anydirection and in any manner desired. The iiring mechanism is simple,cheap, and durable, and not liable to get out of order.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l' claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the plunger F, with lng fi, the sliding rod I,with crank h, and the inclined flange m, substantially as and for thepurposes herein set forth.

2. The sliding and turning rod I, provided with teeth or notches y andcrank h. in com' bination with the plunger F, spring J, and in clined Iiange m, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination of the plunger F, provided with the ring-necdle b,with lug i, the sliding rod I, with crank h, and the inclined iiange m,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in 'presence of tWo Witnesses.

EDWARD D. KENDALL.

Witnesses:

W. M. WALToN, J. EDGAR UoRLms.

